ataSTUDIO is a young design led practice with a portfolio of innovative projects. Recently ataSTUDIO have won a Saltire design award for housing (2007) and were shortlisted as ‘Emerging Architect of the Year 2008’ in the Scottish design awards.

The imagination of ataSTUDIO is reinforced by the substantial track record of architect Graeme Andrew who worked at Page and Park for over 10 years on design and master planning projects. With demanding client teams and project delivery briefs achieved for clients such as The Scottish Office, Renfrewshire Enterprise, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow 1999, EDI and numerous international design competitions, Graeme has a proven expertise.

ataSTUDIO led by Graeme and Hazel bring the combined benefits from their creative design with pragmatism; good ideas made deliverable; contemporary architecture with a traditional service.

Inspiration & Design

Specialising in highly creative bespoke solutions, ataSTUDIO typically develops designs in collaboration with clients through the use of physical models at different scales. ataSTUDIO has also entered many architectural competitions in recent years, for example, The Grand Egyptian Museum, Cairo and West Kowloon Waterfront, Hong Kong - a strong commitment to developing design thinking through competitions is at the heart of the practice philosophy. Using ideas for consulting, interpreting and developing thoughts that we have tested in our other work will be central to our methodology/process.

ataSTUDIO’s key personnel have many years experience of design tutoring at two Universities. We have studied at various scales and have wide experience in working with historic buildings and sensitive landscape settings. Recently ataSTUDIO has completed feasibility studies for Glasgow Building Preservation Trust at Kinning Park and Govan where the emphasis was on creating popular people-places and attractive working environments. As a result of this the GBPT project at Govan has developed into a live fully funded project, after many unsuccessful attempts by other architects and organisations. Our design and enthusiasm was the key element here!

Technical Ability & Organisation

ataSTUDIO is a small but dedicated team, led by two architects who have experience of working with both larger organisations and individual clients. We believe that we can provide a high quality service to clients by remaining small and focused. We are genuinely geared up to engage with the client and enter into an exciting consultative process. A key issue is the successful understanding of briefing concepts and integration of constraints with opportunities - this can be achieved by our team working together with our client throughout and in this respect a local team is often a strong advantage at every stage. We have experience of client liaison for all kinds of clients including national organisations, local authorities, community based groups and building preservation trusts as well as private clients.

Seeing Potential...Finding Opportunities

Potential is all around us. Seeing the potential, often where there appears to be none, is a characteristic quality that we can bring to this project. Working in deprived areas, with tired and derelict structures or simply just unimaginative existing buildings we look for opportunities to add value and sparkle. Creating a new positive image, fun living space or harmonious working environment is a challenge we enjoy.

At Kilmacolm we developed new housing where no one could see the potential, improving the general environment of a central village location. This has paved the way for a wider regeneration project that could never have otherwise been viable.

At the Barras Centre in Glasgow we took an existing, relatively new, empty open shopping courtyard and transformed this with a new roof. Colour and scale for a very modest budget made this transformation possible. Now the courtyard and surrounding units are busy, vibrant and further development is planned!

Management & Control

Delivering a service that is valuable and robust is our key aim. Managing our process of working, with meetings and interviews allows us to gather information. This analysis and research runs through our projects. Through meetings we absorb and develop our understanding of the complex issues that need to be tied together to form a credible design. Physical modelling in card offers the greatest sense of engagement in the process for all parties, professional and lay. The initial stage of a commission will be used to create the existing base model as a working tool, the basis of our general approach to all projects.

Outcomes

There is a comprehensive investigation into the options available within the parameters set by the client. As well as the outcomes requested in the brief we produce physical models which are useful for consultations and clarity.

Program, Personnel & Resource

Our team provides excellent conceptual ideas backed up with a true understanding of building and site limitations. Drawing on the expertise of other consultants at key stages in the development of projects ataSTUDIO can offer a valuable cost effective solution to a brief.

ataSTUDIO
110 Brunswick Street
Glasgow
G1 1TF

contact: Graeme Andrew tel: 0141 572 0957 mob: 07740 862 403 email: mail@atastudio.com